News & Announcements

A Message from Board of Health About Flu

Release Date: February 16, 2018

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTH ABOUT FLU

FEBRUARY 16,2018

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is currently reporting widespread influenza (flu) activity in all regions of the state. According to experts at the NJDOH, widespread flu activity will last approximately 15 weeks which means the state has nine more weeks of widespread flu activity left.

Because not every case of flu is required to be reported to the NJDOH or the local health department/Board of Health, it is impossible to have an accurate count of the number of flu cases for the state or municipality. However, according to the NJDOH’s communicable disease reporting system, CDRS, 1,839 positive flu specimens have been reported between October 7, 2017 to February 10, 2018.

In the week ending February 10, 2018, an increase in flu illness has been seen in the state. Young children, older adults and people with certain health conditions are among those who are at high risk of serious flu complications. In New Jersey, most of the admissions to hospital emergency departments have been seen in the 25 years and older group followed by the 0-4-year-old and 5-24-year-old populations respectively.

The flu can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalizations or sometimes death. There are MANY questions that people have regarding the flu and the Centers for Disease Control has an excellent Frequently Asked Questions to help. This can be accessed by clicking on the following link: